AN: Happy Easter bubs! I'm really nervous about this one...any opinions are welcomed. :)
Chapter 5:
Enchanted Forest
The smile, or smirk Alisha saw it to be, dropped from Jefferson's face. He promptly tipped his hat back onto his head after the lack of reply.
"Was I supposed to be impressed?" Alisha questioned, amusement coating her words.
She could feel a blush burning its way onto her face, after speaking. She had never actually spoken to someone so boldly, as a servant she couldn't. With her closest friend Snow, Alisha could speak freely, but there were still unspoken limits to what she could say. Limits that applied to Alisha outside of the princess' room and hidden company. In addition, Alisha had never actually spoken to someone else who was her age. Someone that looked like him. Someone that was no doubt a noble, judging by the way he dressed. A red scarf with an unidentifiable print wrapped around his neck and tucked into the elegant long coat. Underneath the long coat, Alisha could see matching leather pants and shoes. Upper class, most likely noble status radiated off him. His hair was shortly cropped in a fashion Alisha knew was common for nobles, after briefly serving for a visiting dignitary. His face was cleanly shaven as well, showing off the dip in his chin.
"Not every day you meet a, well I suppose the queen didn't tell you." He told her casually, as if baiting her. He waved his had around, circling her and the table as he did before. He had already radiated mystery, from his name and his attire to his vague statement.
She couldn't help the small glances at him, almost too distracted when he spoke again.
"Even if you are the princess."
The curiosity at who he was dissipated as her body fell away from the table she leaned against, falling to the floor with a horribly loud noise. Through her hair she could see him spare her an uninterested glance, shrugging as he stepped around her body. She assumed he was going to keep walking around the table, just as he was doing. To her surprise, and growing mortification, he lowered a hand down to her.
Alisha stared at his hand as if it was a foreign object, when really she couldn't comprehend why she wanted to hold onto that hand. After a moment's breath, he bent down on his knees, staring into her eyes now.
"I'll assume you're not the princess." He said, tugging on a spiraling lock of her hair.
Alisha saw the amusement in his blue eyes, eyes she wanted to keep looking into. Her humiliation was now painted onto her face, upon realizing he was joking.
"I-I'm Snows friend." She told him, keeping her status a secret. She didn't know what motivated her to do so, the shame or pain on her backside.
Jefferson shook his head, joining their hands together. Golden rings decorated his hands, precious stones shining from the middle of them. She could feel her heart beating rapidly, feeling silly at her reaction of their closeness. She didn't notice him turning her hand over, lifting her fingers. She was too busy wondering how he managed to keep his hat on his head.
She didn't see him strike realization, until he spoke.
"You're her servant."
The way he said it made her stomach coil away, the way he sounded amused at the situation. Shame bubbled up in her body as she pulled her hand away.
Alisha couldn't help looking down at her hands. They were as skinny as the stems of a garden flower, pale skin stretched over the bones. Her nails were short and broken, beyond any hope. Her veins stood out largely, the blue color almost striking against the pigments in her flesh. Her hands had calluses decorating them, in between her fingers and at the base of them, where they met her blistered palm. New tiny sores had developed on her hands from holding the reins of the horse.
She knew it was true, that hands revealed all. Despite the elaborate and delicate silver cloak and simple dress that passed her off as a middle class status-or even a princess if the cloak was drawn, Alisha knew the truth. She would always be a servant. The way her hair spiraled messily told a tale of two fates, a girl with long maiden hair or a servant too poor without a family to cut her hair. Her brown eyes weren't framed with makeup, enhanced only with tired marks. Her nose, while too old to be blemished, was always tinted red, marking a woman who spent many times sleeping on a cold floor or walking through a usually cold servant's hall. Her lips were dry and rarely pulled into a smile, something a graceful noble would always shine.
Alisha felt disgraced, unworthy to even touch the bed she made daily for the princess. No matter how many times Snow White told her status didn't matter, going as far as to befriend the servant, Alisha knew her place. A place that didn't belong in fanciful ideas of Jefferson.
"I-I'm Al-l-deline," She stuttered, crimson tinting her face.
He stared at her strangely, still leaned in close. For a moment, Alisha wondered if she was incapable of breathing. Her thoughts were improper, especially for one of her status.
"What's your real name." He stated, rather than ask, unconvinced.
"Alisha Winifred," She whispered, daring to look into his eyes. She decided she quite liked the shade of blue, the same coloring of a rare Camage flower.
Jefferson seemed to consider the truth of her name, shaking his head. "Nice to meet you Winnie."
He didn't extend a hand or move to stand, neither did she. The two stared at each other, Alisha held a curious shine in her eyes, his more intense.
"Winnie?" She broke the silence, her nose scrunching up.
"What's wrong with that? I doubt anyone even uses your first, why would a nickname bother you." He said the words with ease, her face pinched up in shame.
Alisha stood up, tightening the cloak around her and securing the hood once more. She didn't look at him as she did so, not needing to see the expression she knew would play on his face. He'd most likely laugh at her humiliation.
Her idea was to wait in the courtyard of the large castle, not caring about the punishment that could follow for disobeying the queen. As she walked towards the door, regardless of how much she hoped in her heart, no one stopped her. As the door shut loudly, she could hear a faint call, one she didn't turn around for.
Storybrooke
Adeline still sat at the diner stool, watching Paige leave with her mother Mrs. Grace. She felt almost hazy, watching the two leave. She couldn't draw her eyes away from them, even though the door had already shut. Deep inside her mind, she noticed the curl to Paige's hair, quite similar to her own. The chatter and people around her seemed to disappear, as if she had cut herself away from the world. Adeline wondered dimly if she had spoken to Paige before, it was as if she knew the girl but didn't at the same time.
"It must be hard, huh."
Her focus was cut off, as a young voice chimed in. Her thoughts melted away, leaving a hollow feeling in her chest.
"Oh, hello Henry." Adeline greeted, looking at the young child that sat next to her now.
However, he was looking at the flower petals instead of her. His smaller hands held onto one petal, the same on Paige had fished from her hair.
"It must be hard." He repeated, dropping the petal onto the counter.
Adeline was confused, something that wasn't that difficult when it came to Henry. Only this time, as he spoke, she felt more inclined to listen. As if it was different from the times before. The times he insisted she was actually-
"To watch your daughter leave with her fake parents." He clarified, with a sure and knowing tone.
The reason to listen dwindled a bit, her face deflating. She took on a gentle voice, a motherly tone as she spoke to him.
"Henry, I'm not her, I'm just Adie." She felt almost heartbroken to tell him she wasn't a fictional character many admired.
His face became upset, as it usually did. She knew he was young, letting his imagination fill the world around him, but she didn't want him to keep identifying her as a fictional character. She almost felt empty when she denied that she was that character.
"Yes you are!" He was more insistent that usual. "My mom, my real mom, is in Storybrooke. She'll break the curse! Then you can find your family!"
Her breath caught. Everyone knew that the mayor's sun was adopted. Adeline was usually their server at the diner; she was also at the manor frequently. The mayor tended to need her help with plants, Adeline was all too happy when she learned it would lower her debt and service time.
"Henry, the Mad Hatter doesn't even marry-"
"Henry, what's going on here?"
Adeline looked up at the new voice that interrupted her. A woman a bit older than her frowned down at the two. She had narrowed green eyes, due to her frown, and large cheekbones framing her mouth. Wavy blonde hair fell around her face and onto the red leather jacket she wore.
Adeline, truthfully, felt a bit embarrassed. She was still dressed in her ill fitting inn uniform and skinny jeans, more than likely still having petals in her hair.
"Emma!" Adeline assumed this was Henrys biological mother at the outburst. "This is Adie, she's actually Al-"
"I'm sorry," Emma turned to apologize to Adeline, not looking at Henry as he frowned.
Adeline laughed slightly, waving it off. "It's okay, kids will be kids. I understand."
The comment slipped out of her mouth without any thought, confusion coating her face as she realized what she said. Emma didn't notice her facial expression, speaking to Henry now.
Adeline took the moment to excuse herself, to go back to the bed and breakfast. She was, no doubt, in trouble for not obeying Granny's orders.
Enchanted Forest
Alisha decided she loved the courtyard. The castle was abundantly filled with the wonderful flora. Snaiker vines crawled up the stone half walls, the black lethal vines framing the Fohe flowers. The musty yellow color next to the deep colored vines reflected into the flowers water pond beautifully. Simple white sun star bushes lay beside the half walls, the bushes only blooming in the star light. They shined a bright white, almost blinding if directly looked at. It seemed like everything that made her happy decorated this courtyard. She wondered if Jefferson owned this castle, he was dressed well enough to do so.
"What are you doing out here?" The queens sharp voice instantly rain clouded over Alisha and her peace.
The servant quickly stood up, the leaves of a Blinre bush falling to the pavement after coming into abrupt contact with her clothes. Alisha wanted to hide childishly, into the vines behind her- to let the toxic thorns prick her skin and kill her on the spot. She feared the queen would do so once they entered King Leopold's kingdom.
She watched the queen make her way down the short flight of stairs, which led to the little nook Alisha took up place in. The leather riding pants the queen wore under her riding gown shining in the starlight. Her heeled shoes pattered on the stones, the increasing stride making a noise that matched Alisha's beating heart.
The queen was now directly in front of her, she could smell the perfume that scented the royal.
"Don't make me ask again." The queen warned.
Alisha's attention was drawn to the queen's hand that kept cupping and opening.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Alisha wailed, dropping to her knees. "There was this man inside and I-"
"What did he look like?" Cold urgency ran through the queen's voice, as she pulled the servant up from the ground.
"He had blue eyes, like a Camage and-"
Alisha watched fearfully as the queen rolled her eyes, a smile forming on her face. Reassurance bubbled up in her stomach at the sliver of kindness displayed towards her.
"Next time, don't disobey me, servant."
The smile was instantly dropped, the unspoken warning lingering on her ears as the queen strutted away.